Former Leeds United managerial target Andoni Iraola has announced his intention to leave Rayo Vallecano at the end of the current season. Iraola will take charge of Sunday’s game against Mallorca with a top half finish up for grabs, before leaving the club in pursuit of pastures new.
His decision comes after being pinpointed as Leeds’ chief head coach target following the sacking of Jesse Marsch back in February. Iraola stayed at Vallecano, who were pushing for a spot in Europe at the time, with Leeds opting to appoint his compatriot Javi Gracia in their bid to secure survival.
Vallecano’s form dipped somewhat after Leeds’ interest in the 40-year-old coach, with the Madrid-based outfit winning just four more games prior to this Sunday’s finale. Iraola, though, has called time on his three-season spell with the club, in which he managed to win promotion from the second tier and establish the club in the top flight.
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His next step is currently unknown and it remains to be seen whether Leeds, who parted ways with sporting director Victor Orta at the start of May, will pursue him as they look for a man to lead them back to the Premier League.
"It's hard to keep secrets,” Iraola said, as per 20 Minutos. “I'm not going to continue as coach, but I don't want this to be a farewell.
“The decision has nothing to do with another club, it is to continue or not. From June 5 we will start thinking about more forward and we'll see what to do. It is not a decision made from one day to the next. It has not been a surprise for the club.
“In the end we have spoken again and they had the decision made. It is not for a reason. I have been very comfortable for three years and I consider that it is the right time. I am leaving being very lucky. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine it that way.
“Being at Rayo has been even more beautiful than I expected and qualifying for Europe would not have changed the decision either. The club has tried until the last moment to make me stay but we have acted honestly and I would not look for culprits because there have not been any.”
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